Sunday, August 26, 2007

Kidman and the Tabloids

Did you enjoy reading the review of The Invasion in In Touch? How about the one in Star, OK or Life & Style? Funny, The Invasion opened last week and they didn't have a review. Wonder why? There was a review in People, but it was watery and not really that critical. The newspapers and TV film critics really slammed the film. Anyone who has followed the career of one Nicole Mary Kidman Cruise Urban knows that you can be blindfolded and have a better chance playing darts than Kidman does of having a hit film. Why didn't those tabloids review the film? They do review films. They aren't the late Pauline Kael but they do tell you whether or not to spend a buck on a film. But nothing about The Invasion.

For a few months now, Urban Myths has been pointing out to you, dear readers, about how Kidman has used the media to perpetuate the crap about her happy life.

We have gone over how a photo might appear and the circumstances about it. We talked about the race with Kidman's true love to manipulate the media. But what we haven't talked about is the need that exists between Kidman and those tabloids. They both keep one another afloat.

Let's start with People magazine. People is a legitimate, respected magazine. It's part of the establishment and it's less of a tabloid and more of a magazine. People is also a press agent’s wet dream. What a celebrity wants you to think about them is found in People. Note: Keith Urban couldn't buy coverage if his life depended on it. Yes, in 2002 he was voted one of those sexy dudes but it was a tiny picture and not more than that. Suddenly Kidman sits her ass on Keith's bike (a PR stunt, Keith privately told those close to him). The photo is shown first in the Aussie People then one week later in American People with a blurb about who this Keith Urban is, because certainly the average reader wouldn't know.

He got famous almost overnight. This was a good thing for Kidman - she was in the race with her true love and she used the magazine to show the world how happy she was. We had the pictures of Keith and Nicole strolling in Boston with a ring on her finger. That was black Wednesday, 11/16/05, the day after Keith Urban lost his singular identity as a country music star and Entertainer of The Year for the CMAs. She used People again to show the happy Thanksgiving, and the family Christmas stroll. She used People to write a story in winter 2006 about them living together in Nashville, and finally to announce her engagement. Of course, she neglected to tell Keith she was doing this, but she got what she wanted. They got a cover for the wedding. They got the cover again when he went into rehab. But the story was quite generic. When Keith came back he talked to People. So, if it's in People it must be true...right? Well, that’s what Keith said...

But those other rags? Well, they need a Nicole Kidman. She was Mrs. Tom Cruise. She won an Oscar. She got her heart broken. Yes, her life has sold their magazines and she needs them to perpetuate her name. She can't do it because of her work. Her movies are not the movies that the average reader will go see. Yet, Nicole Kidman needs those people who read the tabloids to keep her famous. She wouldn't give you the time of day on the street. But read about how she took a whole Sunday afternoon to see her poor addicted husband at Betty Ford and you keep her a viable commodity in Hollywood.

The tabloids want you to want to be interested in Nicole and Keith. They sell the magazine. Nicole and Keith (“I don't read them and neither should you”) Urban want you to be interested so that you will buy their tickets. It’s kinda creepy, like all those weird movies Kidman makes with little boys.

But let’s face facts…Kidman and Keith are actually boring. There isn't a scandal there. Yeah, there were rumors, and yes, Keith admitted they were true, but that was in a little known German magazine. These two aren't the power brokers that Katie and Tom are. So what does a famewhore like Kidman do? She knows the strength of those connections, so she cozies up to an emerging internet photo site. I am not mentioning the name, but this person is now on her fan board. It also appears that some deal or arrangement has been made with the photographer that was her worst enemy. He seems to be getting some very nice exclusives lately or else he is using older photos to help the myths move. All of that helps, but Kidman is just not exciting and she has been the subject of more and more ridicule.

Perez Hilton, LaineyGossip and Dlisted have all pointed out the flaws. In my opinion, the future of the celebrity is found in these places. The internet and those who use it for gossip are the new power. Why read about something in People when someone on a blog is actually talking about the real event? Why wait a week for a picture or a review of an event when you can log into Lainey every morning and get a pretty damn accurate report that hasn't been cleaned up by a Wendy Day? I love blind items. Both the E! message board and the king Ted Casablanca have some really great stuff. Nicole can't control that. Even if it’s not true, it’s gone as fast as it comes. It all becomes urban myth. And while the future is the internet, those tabloids will begin to flop just like a Nicole Kidman film. Is it really the consumer who controls the show, not Kidman, not People or Star, Life & Style, In Touch or OK? Not even US. So, the next time she is on the cover don't buy it and soon she won't be on the cover. Anyway you can read more about the real truth on a gossip site than in the pages of one of those magazines.

Hey, Nicole, no one really cares what you want them to believe. The truth will sell you out every time.

31 comments:

Truthfully, the reason kidman and urban cannot become a upper echelon, ultra A list power couple, like "brangelina" or "tomkat", is because their names cannot be combined in a funny or cute nickname... seriously, ive tried to use "Kidban" but it doesnt work. And "keicole", "niceith" are no better... but how about "urman"? Nahhh... Seriously, interesting post, Urban Myths. Just this morning i was wondering about how these washed up celebs who used to have a hit show years ago, who still try and play the game, occasionally show up at a movie premiere, only because their agent or laywer knows somebody, who knows somebody else... Kidman is still using all the tools to keep herself in the game, and despite the failures of her movies, she still has that obsession, that narcissism to try and remain in that spotlight. She certainly doesnt have the self restaint to maybe think people may be fed up, indifferent or just bored by another magazine layout, or pictures at another premiere, where more and more the comments are about the obvious wig shes wearing, or her swollen lips, or her growing forehead. Certainly you wont read about that from People, or US weekly, they dont wnat to lose the access they recieve from celebs. But you will read it on the internet. Where the true popularity of celebs can be far more truthfull gauged, because they are the actual people who pay to see the movies, buy the cds, etc.. Id be willing to bet people will be far more interested in the older actresses who did take time off of the fame game, like gwyneth paltrow, julia roberts, and recently, michelle pfiefer, who actually did take time off to have kids, and be mothers, and not just talked about it in endless interviews. And I think your right, Urban Myths, people on the blogs are showing, more and more, that people like kidman are not very believable people.

Nice conspiracy theory, but you're wildly off-base. I work for one of the mags you mention. The reason none of them reviewed The Invasion is because the movie studio didn't show it to critics in time for those magazines' deadlines. There are plenty of other movies that don't get reviewed for the same reason. People has a later deadline, so it was able to view and review the movie. It's that simple.

Also, I hate to tell you, but the magazines NEVER put Nicole Kidman on their covers anymore. She doesn't sell for them at all. So nice try, but your analysis is simply wrong.

pelvis said..."The reason none of them reviewed The Invasion is because the movie studio didn't show it to critics in time for those magazines' deadlines."

Well, I guess my question to that is, will there ever be a review of the movie in these magazines? Considering the movie is a confirmed critical and box office failure, I have doubts they will, but I dont see how that would necessarily negate any "theory" that they wouldnt because the movie blows.

..."Also, I hate to tell you, but the magazines NEVER put Nicole Kidman on their covers anymore."

Now, NEVER,... cap'ped even.. is a pretty definate claim, you know, it means... ADV. Not ever, at no time; in no degree; not at all... Are you sure you want to stick with that? I'm sure she's getting less covers than in past years, but never? If only that were true!

Here is my question, for someone who might know. With all her recent flops, why are these movie companies still signing her up for movies? She has a string of movies she has signed up for over the next couple of years. I don't get it. Have the flops just not caught up yet?

It's so very obvious that ONE gossip site is in a butt kissing agreement with the Kidmans, it's nauseating!

And these rag mags, including People, need to be on the ball to stay afloat. Your right in that online gossip blogs are more the future. They find truths and aren't afraid to print it.

If these mags don't stop making fake PR deals, nobody will buy their credibility and will stop buying them.

As it is, like mentioned, the internet shows things before print. These mags need credibility now more than ever.

Just like Hollywood needs to stop telling US who is beautiful and who is not, who are great actors and who are not. We are capable of our own thoughts and I think the backlash and distates for Nicole Kidman shows, as does her movie earnings.

It's their own stupidity if they want to keep wasting their money and credibility by giving her jobs.

yeah, doublewide, though they are getting very few and in between, thats something at least.

I just reread urban myths post, and I noticed the part about kidman and urban seen riding on a motorcyle, which was of course reported in People. And I was just surprised i missed that little fact, because in fact, that was the first time i had read that they had become involved back in 2005. And as I am usually carping... all "conspirally and theoretically like"...There was something suspicious i remembered about it. So i did a little research and fact finding... alright i googled!... it just seemed to me that kidman, time and time and time again, is always doing something publicly simply to counter cruise... and here it is again. So on June 23, 2005 cruise had the premiere of war of the worlds in LA. He arrived at the premiere, with katie holmes riding on back, on a motorcyle... and a month later, july of 2005 issue of People mag. they report that "keicole" are seen out riding on a motorcyle... coincidence? If so, then kidman is a natural blonde...and just think, if she could just avoid doing that, she wouldnt have this Invasion remake debacle, and all because cruise did a remake of war of the worlds.

pelvis said....the magazines NEVER put Nicole Kidman on their covers anymore. She doesn't sell for them at all.

Well thank God for that!

RIP Nicole Kidman. Maybe your assistant Keith will see to it that you are buried with all of your old magazine covers so you'll have something to read while you're waiting for .. hmmm what are you waiting for? Where, exactly, does a raised Catholic who renounces her faith to become a Scientologist for the love of a major movie star and tons of money and love of fame yet then gets divorced and becomes Catholic all over again in order to marry an up-and-coming country star who is an "anonymous christian" reside? Heaven or hell? Sorry Miss Kidman, I can't hear you. You and your breathy voice must speak up. Heaven or Hell? Hello? Miss Kidman? Hello?

pelvis said...."the magazines NEVER put Nicole Kidman on their covers anymore. She doesn't sell for them at all."

Well thank God for that!

RIP Nicole Kidman. Maybe your assistant Keith will see to it that you are buried with all of your old magazine covers so you'll have something to read while you're waiting for .. hmmm what are you waiting for? Where, exactly, does a raised Catholic who renounces her faith to become a Scientologist for the love of a major movie star and tons of money and love of fame yet then gets divorced and becomes Catholic all over again in order to marry an up-and-coming country star who is an "anonymous christian" reside? Heaven or hell? Sorry Miss Kidman, I can't hear you. You and your breathy voice must speak up. Heaven or Hell? Hello? Miss Kidman? Hello?

Well pelvis, now that you've spoken - speak some more. Give us some more insight on the world of the rags, ala "Dirt".

And maclen - who the hell cares if any of the mags review Invasion? Why on earth would we want free publicity for her? Even if is negative? Just leave it out all together, the movie doesn't deserve any written words, good or bad.

And hesaweiner - People isn't a rag mag, like what the author is referring to.

notachance said..."And maclen - who the hell cares if any of the mags review Invasion? Why on earth would we want free publicity for her? Even if is negative? Just leave it out all together, the movie doesn't deserve any written words, good or bad.

Although I'm tempted to agree with that, notachance, but believing that she will have another 3 or maybe even 4 more movies out next year, it's precisely because she is contantly given a pass by the industry propagandaist's ,for every worthless movie that come outs. And the point of urban myths tabloid blog, I think, is that if the movie had been better, or even successful they would eventually write a review, in an attempt to help her stay relevant, and of course worth covering.

very very interesting about the motor cycle maclen.....i bet in truth, the woman hates them......haven't known of her to ride with keith ever again after that time.....she is such a hypocrite.

oh and i went to a concert saturday night (a different artist) and sat down by a guy and his family and we got to chatting. so, of course, we eventually got around to keith. the guy said i love keith urban's music. then we got around to NK and he said she's a freak and a whore, what is keith thinking????

could have kissed that guy smack dab on the mouth right in front of his wife for that comment, but i refrained, of course. just goes to show...any guy on the street and changes are they can't stand NK. yeeeeehawwww

I dont know, it just seems urban has lost his opportunity of becoming a lasting, country music star, getting himself entangled and overtaken by her mechanism of blatantly shameless and superficial self promotion...It wont work for him... And speaking of magazine covers, over at the NKU message board, the moderater posted scans of an article in this months aussie OK magazine. And a couple of members posted comments pointing out that the interview and quotes were just recycled from past interviews, some from years ago, another commented that the writer of the article described kidman as "newly blonde"...sure for about 5 years now! So the mechanics of the Pr machine simply regurgitates and reprints the already stale and tired utterances of a fading actress, who at this point, is obviously resigned to the fact that the entire planet is beyond indifferent to her pale work of attempted mental aggrandizement and emotional versatility... or shes doesnt do interviews anymore.

au-contraire - haven't you read about the radio station challenge down under that NK responded to herself? The DJ offered up $1000 to anyone that could find NK and have her call in, NK heard this and called in herself and said she would donate the $1000 to charity. Of course, this way no poor schmuck from the beloved Aussie countryside could win the $1000.....

what I want to know is, how does this DJ honestly believe that a regular aussie citizen would be able to find her, out among the throngs perhaps?... let alone be able to talk her into calling the station...without them getting chased down by her massive security and being beaten to a pulp? Sounds like just another paltry addition to her oh so tiring charitable work this year alone... the recent unifem Banquet and Formal Ball for the fatcats in Australia...you see, she just happened to be in town... and a video conference call back in Feburary, into the U.N. praising the work they do, from L.A., she was filming reshoots... and then ...well, thats it. You see, I dont criticize her for doing charitable work, I criticize her because the actual work seems to be outweighed by her endless appearences at press conferences and banquet dinners announcing she's signed on to do charity work.

I criticize her because the actual work seems to be outweighed by her endless appearences at press conferences and banquet dinners announcing she's signed on to do charity work.

i'd kind of like to see some of that actual work.....she has made some appearances and didn't she visit kosovo? but did she actually "do" anything that would require any kind of self-denial? besides show off that expensive purse of hers in kosovo?

"becomes Catholic all over again in order to marry an up-and-coming country star"...Why does everyone keep referring to Keith as "up and coming"... he was "up and coming" years ago when he won the award for best newcomer. As a two time male vocalist of the year, entertainer of the year and a grammy winner (to list a few of his many awards), he is not up-and-coming, he's one of country music's top acts (or was until his involvment with her - now his personal life is garnering more attention than his music... what a shame!). Admittedly, if you are not a country fan, you probably didn't know who he was, but that doesn't make him "up and coming". I don't know who any of the top rock and rap artists are, but that doesn't mean they haven't reached the top of their field, it just doesn't happen to be a field I take interest in. Please give Keith the same respect. He was a top country star long before he became Mr. Kidman, and if he ever gets out of the fallout generated by the botox queens ego, he will be recognized as such again.

Please give Keith the same respect. He was a top country star long before he became Mr. Kidman, and if he ever gets out of the fallout generated by the botox queens ego, he will be recognized as such again.

We have always respected Keith Urban the artist. But, when he was on the verge of being a "big star", he fell into the clutches of the botox queen. He took a lot of time off, produced a sub-par CD (compared to what he's capable of), and we agree that he will be back when he is rid of the Washed Up/Washed Out One.

He let his career lapse when he was on his way to "the top", and didn't quite make it. Kenny is on top right now. His singles (and Brad Paisley's) make radio play immediately when they are released. Others, including Keith's, need to make it in the top 10 before my stations play them. He's not all that... but he could have/should have been.

I think when commenters refer to urban as up and coming, I do believe they mean it in past tense. Because now a majority of them believe he is now down and going... Making it to the top does not guarentee that he will remain there. Certainly compared to chesney, as urban myths mentions, his last cd has sold about 3 mill albums, as compared to urbans 1 mill. which is way down from his last lp. I seriously dont see how he will get back to the top with the on again off again touring, the second hand recording, because he will be too preoccupied with kidmans career demands as she is lining up another movie every few weeks.

Notice how Keith's plan of a vacation for right now has backfired since his beautiful princess is still filming her epic? He plans a whole month off at the end of a tour, when there's only 6 or 7 dates left? He should've just knocked them out and then done the vaca. Now it's all out of whack. I'd hate to be one of the last dates..... just sayin' - cause if that's when HER vaca actually starts.....

I'm a bit confused by the person who said Keith Urban's latest CD wasn't as good as he was capable of. Why?

Because it wasn't 'country' enough for you?

I am originally born and raised in Texas, raised on country music. I have a high respect for it, but I also have a high respect for the Cranberries, Enya, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Maroon 5, ABBA, the BeeGees, Phil Collins, symphony music, new Age. I like a variety of music and if you have ever listened to Keith, so does he.

Keith Urban's latest album was mature, it was filled with sounds that are inspiring and interesting to him, a blend of genres that shows something that, sadly, most country artists don't show anymore- color. Variety. Life. Intelligence. You name it.

Have you ever heard Keith Urban's 1991 album? It had pop songs on it. Gasp! Yes, it did... it had pop songs and it had country songs... it had a blend of sounds. I find that when I ask people that, especially people that call themselves Keith Urban fans, they've never heard his original album, for one reason or another. Listen to it! It's not I-lost-my-dog country music. It's layered and interesting and a variety of songs and sounds. That's who Keith Urban was in 1991, and that's who he is in 2007.

It's disturbing that you are stalking boards and members of boards and reporting back on the things they do. Don't you have something better to be doing? The 'old Keith' that you speak of wouldn't want you sitting around stalking fan boards and reporting on them.

And before you say I'm one of those new Keith fans too, I've been a fan of Keith Urban for about five years. I knew next to nothing of Nicole Kidman five years ago. I remember the old Keith, I know the new Keith. I have done a lot of studying (I'm an author) in relationships, human behavior, etc. The old Keith we loved was mostly a sham. He was an outwardly happy person who was hurting inside. I have seen case after case of this in my life and in my studies... sometimes the saddest people appear on the outside to be the happiest- usually stunningly so. It's a self defense mechanism.

If Keith is happy now, it's because he finally had to think about things, be honest with himself and be honest with God. It has nothing to do with his career, marriage or fans. Being happy or unhappy starts with a person and their own relationship with themself and with God.

You sound like one of those fans who wish they had married Keith Urban, and are going to complain forever that he married someone else. I'm glad he didn't marry a fan... geesh, if that wouldn't have been the WORST thing for him AND the fan. A man like Keith doesn't need a woman who worships him. Talk about driving him over the edge! People who are hurting don't need to be turned into idols... it just makes them feel more lonely and cut off because they know they have problems but the world won't tell them that.

And a fan doesn't need to be married or DATING or whatever- someone they admire that much. That's not a marriage. That's a fan club.

If you want to do something for Keith Urban, pray for him. And go visit Kosovo... preferably without the fancy handbag?

Kackie said... I'm a bit confused by the person who said Keith Urban's latest CD wasn't as good as he was capable of. Why?

Because it wasn't 'country' enough for you?

I am originally born and raised in Texas, raised on country music. I have a high respect for it, but I also have a high respect for the Cranberries, Enya, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Maroon 5, ABBA, the BeeGees, Phil Collins, symphony music, new Age. I like a variety of music and if you have ever listened to Keith, so does he.

Keith Urban's latest album was mature, it was filled with sounds that are inspiring and interesting to him, a blend of genres that shows something that, sadly, most country artists don't show anymore- color. Variety. Life. Intelligence. You name it.

Have you ever heard Keith Urban's 1991 album? It had pop songs on it. Gasp! Yes, it did... it had pop songs and it had country songs... it had a blend of sounds. I find that when I ask people that, especially people that call themselves Keith Urban fans, they've never heard his original album, for one reason or another. Listen to it! It's not I-lost-my-dog country music. It's layered and interesting and a variety of songs and sounds. That's who Keith Urban was in 1991, and that's who he is in 2007.__________________________________It is my opinion that LPWCT is not representative of the work Keith is capable of. I have all of Keith’s CD’s including the 1991 CD, the Ranch CD and even the Days Go By CD which was produced for the European market and is more of a pop oriented sound. I have no problems with pop music, I too listen to a broad spectrum of music, I run the gambit from Classical to Hard Rock. I am by no means a Country Music purist. My problem with LPWCT is that the songs are overly produced with lack luster vocal performances. While I do like the CD for what it is, I have never thought that this LPWCT was representative of Keith’s best work. Maybe production of the CD was harried because of all the things in his personal life which were taking up his time, or whether Keith just wasn’t inspired at the time to produce a CD of a like quality to the previous releases, I don’t know. All I know is that to me the performances lack enthusiasm and vision. You are entitled to your own opinion, that’s what’s great about music it touches people in different ways.

Kackie said..."I'm a bit confused by the person who said Keith Urban's latest CD wasn't as good as he was capable of. Why? Because it wasn't 'country' enough for you?"

No, I'd say his latest cd wasnt as good to that commenter because they didnt like as much as his previous cds. That simple... that was their opinion... and no amount of your touting of your state of birth or your self proclaimed knowledge or expertise on the subject, I highly doubt is gonna change that opinion, and as for your indignation and fillibusting, we've come to expect youll never post here again, since you got your tantrum on, and will not respond to replies to your shrill comments. If I were you though, dont read the next blog entry, your head may explode.

Funny, Maclean. No, it doesn't make my head explode... just worries me. You guys spend waaay too long thinking about Nicole Kidman. And talking about her. You talk about her more than she talks about herself.

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